Time to answer reviews! All 32 of 'em! You guys should try my other stories too. Here we go:
QueenThayet12990- thank you for the enthusiasm! And thank you for reviewing
Lost goddess of the shadows- thank you for all of the reviews! I'm glad you like it. You would not believe how glad I am that you read it so much. I have so much planned out for it. I still need to type up 9 front and back notebook pages
slw- thank you! It's cool we're alike. I'm almost exactly your height too! Sweet. Oh, and Cat does have faults…you just don't know them yet. This is going to be a very long story.
ME- thank you. Oh, and I love your name….
HyperLittleCat- I'm sorry, but James won't be a prig for long. He actually gets a conscience. Thanks for reviewing! Cat will not seem so perfect in a while, trust me. The shang Panther simply showed Cylon how to help Cat while she is fighting. Good question.
Laila- thanks. I'm glad you were craving for some cylobaby writing.
Beth- let me reassure you it will happen, just not too soon. It will be good. Remember I have a lot of the story already written.
Lady Emmi-thank you for pointing out that mistake, but I don't think you'll know I'm saying this 'cause you wont actually read it.
Bob the female dog- you are one cool reviewer. Thank you for the comment on my grammer and spelling. Keep reading
Cararox- hopefully, this chapter will answer your question about working for James. Cats only show a little of their talking through meows. In truth, they are almost always talking, for cats communicate mainly telepathically. Cat talks just telepathically unless in cat form
Wild-wizard-women- the animals are referred to as human because to Cat they are. Cats have the highest intelligence of animals(according to me) and they too have feelings. The king and queen know, they just haven't told James.
Dragon-shifter- thank you
Me- funfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfun right back. i love darkings and if you and them enjoy the story then I know I;m good. Lol
Rani singla- I know you like my story because you bug me every day at school about it. 'Have you updated?" has been imprinted in my ears.
I am up so late. My folks will kill if they see me, so I'm going to bed. Its 9:10
Cat awoke the next morning, slowly and without recollection of any dream. Cylon was gone, probably off getting breakfast. The girl slipped on a soft floor length robe and ran a comb through her springy hair. Eager to see her father, she raced to the kitchen.
Once she entered the kitchen, three voices yelled, "Happy Birthday, Cat!" Two voices came from her mind while her father's came from outside of it.
Jack, Cylon and an unfamiliar kitten sat at the table. The calico kitten stood up. 'Hi, I'm Callie! You can call me Cal. I'm going with you to,' she broke off at a glare from Cylon.
The petite blue explained, 'This is our new apprentice, Cal. She wants to be a spy, just like us.'
'I see,' Cat said to both of them. "So exactly where are we all going?"
Both cats stayed quiet and Jack shot Cal a glare as though he knew it had been her who had given something away. Jack laughed and smiled. "Breakfast time!" he said.
Cat, Cal, Jack and Cylon sat at the table, happily eating bacon and eggs. Once they Jack sat back in his chair and smiled.
"Would you like the rest of your presents now?" asked Jack with love in his usually guarded eyes. Cat shrugged and nodded, trying to act casual.
Jack went to the cabinet in the cozily warm kitchen and pulled out a small box wrapped in shimmering green paper. He handed it to Cat and nodded for her to open it. She slid her short nail under the tape and unwrapped it deftly and swiftly. She slowly opened the box and pulled out the new chain for her necklace.
However, this was not the normal plain chain. All around the long strand of gold were griffin feathers. Her mouth dropped open in awe. Eventually she gasped, "How did you get these?"
Griffin feathers were every spy's dream. No lies can be told around them unless its by the wearer. They can even help the wearer see through the most convincing illusions.
Jack just grinned and said, "I have my sources." Cat returned the grin and gave him a hug. Cat used her Gift to slip her beautiful cat charm over the feathers without touching them. It settled in the middle and matched the gold feathers perfectly.
Cylon mind-spoke smugly, "I knew you'd like it."
"One more thing," said Jack, walking over to a chair. He sat down and crossed his arms over his chest. Surprised at his solemn tone, Cat sat down across from him and raised an inquiring eyebrow. "How would you like to go on a mission? As both spy and bodyguard."
"I'd love it!" Cat said, grinning wider than should be humanly possible. "Who am I guarding?" Jack was silent. "Jack?" she asked in confusion.
"You'll have to learn when we get there. We're meeting him at the palace," Jack said, a closed look on his face.
Cat shrugged, knowing she would never get information out of him now. "When do we leave?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Today, actually. I tried to postpone it, but as your charge is going to be an ambassador in Malvint, we thought the sooner the better." Jack looked down to avoid her eyes, obviously extremely sad.
Cat sighed and whispered, "Thank you." Jack looked up and their eyes locked; deep hazel gazing into al green.
Jack rose and said, "I'll come with you to the palace and see you off."
Cat nodded and took his hand. Her father pulled her to her feet. "You be-better go pack," he said, voice cracking slightly. Cat picked up her necklace and asked Jack to hook it for her. He complied and Cat headed to her room to repack.
Cylon and Cal followed behind, keeping silent. Once in her room, Cat began meticulously putting clothes into her recently used bags. She packed more weapons and spy equipment than she had been able to take to school.
Cat brushed her hair calmly, gazing unseeingly into the mirror. Cylon searched the room for any misplaced items and Cal brought her a leather hair band. 'Thanks, Cal."
The spy pulled her hair back in a high ponytail, keeping her hair visible to make an impression. She pulled on a black tunic and mind-murmured, 'Let's go.'
Cylon jumped onto Cat's shoulder, and then jumped back off to Cal how to do it. The calico eventually settled for using Cat's hand as a springboard. Hardly noticing the weight on her shoulders, Cat went outside, making her traveling bag levitate behind.
Jack was waiting by the stables with both Ashpetal and Storm, his black gelding, tacked and ready to leave. He lumped on and Cat followed suit. Cylon and Cal sat together around Cat's neck, relaxing in the morning sunlight.
The calico kitten yawned. "This is fun!" she purred. Cylon looked at her from the other side of Cat's strong shoulders.
"We're just getting started," she meowed good-naturedly. Using her powerful Gift, Cat kept her bag floating behind her. Clicking Ash into a walk then trot, Cat rode. Jack rose beside her the whole long way, neither talking and Cat ignoring Cal's and Cylon's whispered conversation.
They arrived at the royal palace at nearly five, tired after the seven hour ride. The sun was just beginning to lower in the pink sky. The huge white castle was backed impressively by the beautiful sunset.
Ivy swarmed the walls and the royal banner flapped from all the many ramparts. The moat that surrounded the building was murky, but Cat could see the tell-tale flicker of scales that meant it swarmed with alligators.
Jack led the way inside, the guards parting the instant they saw the hooded figure that was Silence. Cat kept her eyes down and head low.
The spymaster showed his daughter and her feline friends the royal meeting room. Royalty had rooms for everything. Cat sat in one of the eight chairs that circled a large table and Jack sat next to her. After a few minutes of waiting, Jack began talking to his spy daughter, and the girl allowed herself to be dragged into a meaningless conversation.
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Prince James stood in front of his mirror, gazing what he suspected was dashingly at his reflection. His black hair fell gracefully to right above his dark blue eyes, accenting his clear tan skin.
His parents had hired him a bodyguard, apparently kin of Silence. He straightened his ruffled white shirt and flung his blue cape around his shoulders and deftly clasping the gold button at his neck.
He raised an eyebrow at himself and struck his cool and tough pose. He thought he looked pretty darn good. He tried his hot and player look and got the same results. He nodded approvingly at his reflection and strode out of the room, eager to meet his new protector. The man had supposedly studied with the Shang for a summer and learned a few moves, or so his father had told him.
King Andrew and Queen Jessica met him at the door to the meeting room. "Let's go," James said and began to open the door.
His father put a hand to the door and said, "I would like you to be polite to your new bodyguard. This person will be protecting your life in Malvint, also working as a spy for Coutrun." The king had his no nonsense voice on.
"I know, Father." Looking apprehensive, the queen removed her husband's hand from blocking the door. James opened it, shaking his head at his parents' weirdness.
Inside were two people were talking. One was facing then and James recognized Silence. Facing away was a person with a high ponytail of curly hair. It was full of streaks of color. James had never seen such hair, and if he didn't know better he would have said it was feminine. Around his neck sat two cats… one looked oddly familiar.
The spymaster's face lit up. "Hello You Majesties," he greeted. The body guard turned to look at them. When he saw the face of the person who would be protecting him for the next few months, James's jaw dropped in surprise. Sitting haughtily in front of him was Catherine Smith.
"She's my body guard?" exclaimed James. The girl looked to Silence for confirmation, eyes wide. When Jack nodded, she looked back at James.
The king coughed. "James, I would like you to meet Cat Jarewl. And you already know her father, Jack." James was taken aback. That shy Smith girl was actually the daughter of the most well-respected man in the country?
James stared at her as his father listed her qualifications. "Cat is a spy and a bodyguard, though she prefers to body guard. She has trained with the Shang and private tutors. Cat has the Sight, the Gift, the ability to tal,"
Cat cut him off by saying, "Not everything, please Your Highness." The king nodded, dumbfounded. "Nice to see you again, Prince James," she said, rising and offering a hand to him.
As the prince shook her hand awkwardly, her hair caught his attention again. It was very feline. Silence laughed from his chair. "Now I can see why you wear your bandana, Cat."
The girl stared at him, her gaze hardening with every passing second. It seemed like she was listening to something only she could hear. He shuffled slightly under the intense green eyes and smirked to cover his nervousness. "So this is the real Catherine Smith, eh?"
The spy dropped her gaze and sat back down next to her father. Something gold caught his eye. "Are those griffin feathers?" he asked, eyes wide.
She nodded and looked to the king as he began explaining her job. "You are to protect my son and his friend during the trip to and in Malvint. Discover if they are planning to war against Coutrun. You may stay here tonight with your father but tomorrow you will head out. No soldiers can accompany you due to some rules King Niko of Malvint set."
Catherine nodded and asked, "Who's the friend?" James immediately remembered.
"The Lord Nathan Stutrian. He is your age," said King Andrew. The spy nodded again, smaller this time. "James will show you your room. Now."
James rolled his eyes and motioned to her to follow him. As Cat walked, her suitcase levitated behind her. Scanning it with his Sight, James saw it was bathed in green- bronze magic, just as Cat herself.
Her feline friends gazed deeply at him, so intense that he whirled around began heading to the designated guest room. They both were silent the whole way up. "Here it is," James said after trudging up two flights of stairs. "Dinner's at seven."
Cat nodded, not bothering to acknowledge his rude attitude. James stomped off, leaving the taciturn girl behind.
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The prince stormed to the room he shared with Nathan. He burst in, so furious that Nat noticed even before the door had slammed shut.
"I'm guessing you don't like him?" he asked wisely, referring to the new bodyguard.
"I would like 'him', if 'he' was a 'him'. To make a long story short, my bodyguard is Silence's daughter, Cat Jarewl. Better known to us as Catherine Smith," fumed James.
Nat raised his eyebrows. "That makes sense," he said thoughtfully.
"Sense!" exploded James. "How does a girl body guard make sense!"
Nat calmed his ranting with a raise of his hand. "It explains why she could hide her emotions so well, why she was quiet, and why she could beat you at Shang fighting," explained Nat slowly, as though talking to a person who was rather dim.
James froze, surprised he hadn't thought of that logic. Nat laughed at the prince's shocked face and James scowled at him, unaware of a blue cat's gray eyes watching them from the doorway.
Please review more! Sorry for the wait, but I had it all written and couldn't find the time to type it up.